Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the potential clinical utility of wide–angle fluorescein angiography in the setting of active ROP and uncertainty in disease manifestations. Methods: Review of a consecutive series of 30 patients with atypical disease managed at a referral center and having fluorescein angiography in their work up. Sodium fluorescein 5% was given 0.08 cc/kg body weight intra–venous and serial images were obtained with the RetCam system. Results: Fluorescein angiography was found helpful in the following situations: 1) Detection of flat neovascularization, 2) Delineating the anterior extent of retinal vascular development, 3) Detection of laser skip regions, 4) Qualitative assessment of anterior and posterior vascular activity, 5) Detection of sub–clinical retinal detachment, 6) Demonstration of arterial–venous anastamosis or capillary non–perfusion, 7) Detection of translucent neovascularization 8) Monitoring disease progression in the presence of vitreous hemorrhage and 9) Staining of the posterior vitreous to facilitate its surgical removal. It was felt to be a significant aid when threshold disease did not fully respond to laser or when atypical vascular features were present. Conclusions: Fluorescein angiography using modern imaging systems has the potential of assisting the diagnosis and management of atypical ROP.
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • imaging/image analysis: clinical • retinal development